Michael Brown Testifies before Senate panel (LIVE THREAD)

me

[bayourant]

Here we go.

[bayourant]

Executive question thread. White hHOuse says no need to assert. Stevens from Alaska still nervous

[mnehring]

Is this on CSPAN? (I don't want to unplug my laptop and go to an office w/ a TV w/out knowing..)

[bayourant]

Its on Fox right now

[bayourant]

unfort where I live we dont C-span so I dont know but it should be

[Txsleuth]

This Michael Brown is wanting to throw Bush under the bus...and he is asking the Senators to give him permission to do it.

I guess he doesn't remember how Bush went on national TV saying "Good job, Brownie"....

[Txsleuth]

Live thread ping

[Pukin Dog]

It looks like both Brown and Congress want White House cover for budgetary issues pertaining to FEMA and the Katrina response.

Nice try by Brown's lawyer, but the White House is letting it all hang out, which is a good thing. Let the chips fall.

[newconhere]

Why is Brown wanting to do this? I guess the left will make him a "poster child" of the mislead and misguided population. They will like him and praise him, what hypocrites. It is Bush's fault. It is always Bush's fault.

[bayourant]

Thats true. Imean if stuff went wrong it needs to be fixed. This culture of off with peoples head because mistakes happen in never before handled situations is counterproductive

[mnehring]

Thanks... It is on CSPAN.. from the few sentences I've heard so far.. the dems will be disappointed.. Brown isn't throwing anyone under the proverbial bus.

[Pukin Dog]

No, he's got nothing.

He had hoped that the White House would protect him, that's all. Brown wanted a life-raft and didn't get it. He doesn't have anything to say that would hurt the Bush administration. This was just Poker.

[Miss Marple]

Fox is also carrying it.

[surrey]

Susan Collins sounds mentally challenged. It's painful to listen to her.

[SE Mom]

Thanks so much for posting this thread...I've been listening for 20 mins, and there seems to be a lot of blaming and NO ONE taking responsibility for anything...

[balch3]

The White House has nothing to fear. They did nothing wrong. Brown sounds unbalanced.

[SE Mom]

What a mess ping..

[Txsleuth]

All I know is....just ONCE I would like these pompous Senators to have to face a panel of WE CITIZENS that could make accusations and insults and ask stupid questions...

and humilitate THEM in front of national TV.

[Danae]

Maybe the White house isn't invoking Exec Priv. because there is nothing to hide?

But More I think the White house wants to give Brown the opportunity to Flay the Gov of Louisiana and all the officials in the state that were so absolutely HORRIBLE and did such awful work for the people they were supposed to serve.

Perhaps this is the White house throwing The Gov of La, and the Mayor of N.O. to the dogs they themselves raised?

[Txsleuth]

"What a mess.."

Boy have you got that right...

[Bahbah]

I would like these pompous Senators to have to face a panel of WE CITIZENS

What an absolutely fabulous idea.

[mnehring]

It's funny how originally Brown was considered a dolt who didn't know his job and padded his resume.. now he is questioned like an expert..

[the-gooroo]

Her voice is so shaky and she speaks very slow. It does take some getting used to.

[bayourant]

What I dont get is this. That afternoon we knew of massive flooding. Now of course MOnday night was when the other canal broke. So people knew of flooding that afternoon. Now it seems saying that that the Federal response was pretty quick that day.

[bwteim]

Brown just said he emailed an official that evening to tell him how bad it was. Why email? Why not a phone call immediately? CYA?

[SoFloFreeper]

She sounds like a female Joe Lieberman...slow, shaky speech. I find it difficult to listen to, too. I don't think she's "mentally challenged", though...just a slow speaker.

[half-cajun]

She has the most annoying voice I've ever heard.

[mnehring]

Maybe Blackberry, faster response versus getting voice mail if someone on the phone...

[Pukin Dog]

LOL.

Repeat after me:

"I WONT LET THE BASTARDS GET TO ME"

Try it. It works.

Look at Collins, she is an idiot. I would not worry so much about these people. Very little will come from this. Brown is in CYA mode, angry that he got no cover from the White House, but that wont get him anywhere today. The MSM will get a few juicy quotes but in the end, it will be a blip on the radar screen.

[SoFloFreeper]

The Senators do face a panel: every six years. And most of 'em keep getting re-elected. How else do you explain clowns like Kerry and Kennedy??

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Reminiscent of the 9/11 omission commission hearings....
Just like the Loretta Scott King funeral, this is nothing but just another opportunity for the Liberals and the MSM to trash, bash, blame President Bush.

[bayourant]

I hope he didnt send it from the Restaurant that he got so criticised about being at

[verity]

That was my impression also. Does anyone know if she has a speech impediment?

[bayourant]

I would say this. Yeah your half right. There are def problems though that need to be fixed. All this political blame game though gets in the way and clouds it all

[roses of sharon]

These hearings are to pacify black voters.

Either they enlarge FEMA, and make them 1st responders, or not.

Of course, that would be too mature, serious, and boring for modern day pols and their voters.

[bwteim]

Good point, but it just seems like you'd be burning up the actual telephone to DC powers that be to demonstrate the urgency via voice of a "worst case scenario".

[Prophet in the wilderness]

It's painful to listen to anyone of them, mostly the Liberal Senators.

[bayourant]

Well I wouldnt say just black voters. I mean there is nothing wrong having a hearing on this matter. I oppose a continious hearing that will go till election day like the dems want

[mnehring]

Did he just say he asked to 'keep DHS out of his hair'?
He also didn't ask for the White House to take any action...

Lieberman seems to be defending the White House and showing Brown was the main problem..

[mnehring]

He didn't know if he spoke to the President? Seems to be that would be the one person one would remember speaking with.

[bayourant]

What? why isnt he talking to the Cabinet Secretary. Thats weird

[Spaghetti Man]

FEMA should not be 1st responders. I would hope that the state and any city the size of NO would be the first responder. The feds can come along later to assist but I would never want to be in a domestic crisis, such as this, that relies soley on the feds as the 1st response.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

" I would like these pompous Senators to have to face a panel of WE CITIZENS "
" What an absolutely fabulous idea. "

Unprecedented I say ! Unprecedented.

[Semper Paratus]

If Brown was as incompentent as the democrats say, why would they care to hear from him at all?

[/Rhetorical _Question]

[surrey]

Our local paper, on the South Shore of MA, is having Kerry in to take questions from their readers.They have asked readers to call or e-mail a question that they would like to ask Kerry. Anyone have a real doozy? Of course, I'm sure he'll only answer,in his long-winded way, questions that he deems appropriate.

[bayourant]

TRue, also and I hope this comes out. This was alot more than New Orleans it was like all of Southeast Louisiana and Mississippi. I remember hearing reports of bodies in the lake in Slidell. The real non sexy questions they should ask is about what sort of communication systems should be in place

[Pukin Dog]

Brown WAS the problem.

And now, he is showing is stupidity by admitting that he didn't like the fact that Chertoff was inserted above him in the chain of command. He didn't say it directly, but you can bet that will be the MSM spin.

Brown is a fool, and he is proving that his White House letter was just a bluff, hoping they would throw him a rope. He drowns on his own today.

[Jrabbit]

Well, he said he didn't want to seem "arrogant" but he talks to the President all the time....

[jennyjenny]

Brown is playing CYA.

[JEH_Boston]

Lieberman seems to be defending the White House and showing Brown was the main problem.

It sounds like Mr. Brown just stated that he didn't follow the chain of command in an effort "to get things done" and appears to have bypassed Homeland Security and went directly to the White House. If this is true, Brown may very well have been the problem.